NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania

What NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania does

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania (NWWPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit housing counseling agency founded in 1968 by Dorothy Richardson and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally established as Neighborhood Housing Services to combat discriminatory lending practices on Pittsburgh's Northside, the organization operates as a chartered member of the NeighborWorks America network of more than 240 community-based nonprofits. NWWPA provides HUD-approved housing counseling services, including pre-purchase counseling, post-purchase counseling for existing homeowners (with follow-up at 6 months and annually for 7 years), foreclosure prevention counseling, homebuyer education workshops, and housing payment assistance programs (including PAHAF and URA-distributed programs). The organization delivers services across 23 Western Pennsylvania counties through a hybrid in-person and virtual channel, including in-person workshops at libraries and community centers, virtual counseling via Zoom, and a self-service customer portal powered by RootedApp.

The Arriving Home program is NWWPA's core financial product, a fixed-rate second-mortgage down-payment and closing-cost assistance loan priced at 2% over the first mortgage lender's rate, allowing qualified buyers to bring as little as $1,500 of their own funds to closing. The program is capitalized by a $5 million PNC Bank fund and operates in partnership with Pennsylvania Home Lending Collaborative and Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, with 25 approved first-mortgage lender participants (PNC, Citizens, Dollar Bank, Huntington, WesBanco, Bank of America, Chase, and others). NWWPA also distributes a $99 online homebuyer education course through partner eHome America, with fee discounts for households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and possible lender sponsorship.

Operating revenue is funded through a combination of corporate grants and investments (notably PNC's $5M capitalization and KeyBank's $400K equity initiative investment in October 2023), NeighborWorks America network funding, PHFA program participation, donations processed via PayPal, and small transactional fees from the homebuyer education course and down-payment assistance loans. NWWPA holds HUD housing counseling approval, PHFA Comprehensive Housing Counseling Initiative approval, and has adopted National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. The organization operates with a small staff (11-50 employees), does not have any disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and uses a standard non-profit technology stack centered on RootedApp, Zoom, Eventbrite, PayPal, and eHome America.

Name

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania

Legal name

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania

Website

https://neighborworkswpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania is a HUD-approved, non-profit housing counseling agency founded in 1968 that provides homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention counseling, and the Arriving Home down-payment assistance loan program to first-time homebuyers and existing homeowners across 23 Western Pennsylvania counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Housing Counseling and Homebuyer Education

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention & Loss Mitigation Programs (FSALAKAM), Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

Keywords

• Housing counseling services
• Homebuyer education
• Down payment assistance
• Foreclosure prevention
• Nonprofit housing agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Investments: Funding from financial institutions and government programs. KeyBank invested $400,000 in 2023 to support homeownership equity initiatives.
2. Program Capital: PNC Bank capitalized a $5 million fund to support the down-payment and closing-cost assistance loan program.
3. Down-Payment Assistance Loans: Affordable second mortgage loans for eligible first-time homebuyers in Western Pennsylvania, offered in partnership with lending institutions.
4. Homebuyer Education Course: $99 fee for online eHome America homebuyer education course (with potential discounts for low-income households). Sponsorships from lenders may cover this fee.
5. Donations: Accepts donations from individuals and organizations who share the mission of promoting homeownership and stable communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania is a HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agency that provides free one-on-one homebuyer and homeowner counseling, foreclosure prevention counseling, group homebuyer education workshops, and affordable fixed-rate second-mortgage down-payment and closing-cost assistance loans to first-time homebuyers in 23 counties of Western Pennsylvania. All services are delivered through HUD-certified counselors via in-person workshops, virtual sessions, and an online customer portal.

Product overview

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania offers a unified homeownership services platform centered on counseling, education, and financial assistance. The core offerings include the Arriving Home Down-Payment Assistance Loan (a fixed-rate second mortgage for first-time buyers), Homebuyer Education Workshops and one-on-one counseling sessions, Post-Purchase Homeowner Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention services, and Housing Payment Assistance Programs. All services are accessible through a Customer Portal for online scheduling, document uploads, and progress tracking. The organization operates as a HUD-approved, nonprofit housing counseling agency serving Western Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arriving Home Down-Payment and Closing-Cost Assistance Loan A standard fixed-rate second-mortgage loan that provides down-payment and closing-cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers in Western Pennsylvania. Borrowers may bring as little as $1,500 of their own funds; interest rate is 2% over the first mortgage lender's rate.
• Homebuyer Education Workshops Full-day in-person and virtual workshops covering the complete home purchasing process including credit scores, loan options, down payment planning, home shopping, insurance, and maintenance. Completion earns a Homebuyer Education Certificate valid for one year.
• Homebuyer Counseling Free one-on-one pre-purchase counseling helping prospective homebuyers evaluate readiness to buy, understand the process, and develop personalized action plans. Includes post-purchase follow-up counseling at 6 months and annually for 7 years.
• Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Free counseling for homeowners facing payment difficulties or foreclosure, including guidance on loan modifications, repayment plans, forbearance options, and connection to financial assistance programs.
• Post-Purchase Homeowner Counseling Free one-on-one counseling for existing homeowners covering budget review, home improvement planning, and bill prioritization during financial hardship.
• Housing Payment Assistance Programs Connects customers to housing payment assistance programs including the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, URA Housing Stabilization Program for Pittsburgh renters, and Penn Hills COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program.
• Customer Portal Online self-service portal where customers create accounts, schedule appointments with counselors, register for classes, upload documents, make payments, and monitor progress through their homeownership journey.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped more than 500 people achieve homeownership over two years (as of 2021)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Pennsylvania Home Lending CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Pennsylvania Home Lending Collaborative and Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks (fellow NeighborWorks America network member) to bring the down-payment and closing-cost assistance loan program to the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
• Citizens BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner in the Arriving Home down-payment assistance program. Tammy Bey, Secretary of NWWPA Board, is Vice President and Community Development Market Manager of Western Pennsylvania for Citizens Bank.
• Dollar BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner in the Arriving Home down-payment assistance program since the program's launch in February 2021.
• Huntington BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner in the Arriving Home down-payment assistance program. Jason Lipford, NWWPA Board member, is Vice President, District Manager with Huntington National Bank overseeing 23 branch locations.
• WesBancocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner in the Arriving Home down-payment assistance program. Sponsors homebuyer workshops including events with Hill District Library.
• Bank of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner since joining the program in May 2021 as part of the expansion of the Arriving Home down-payment assistance program.
• AmeriServ BanksecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner in the down-payment assistance loan program. Sponsors homebuyer workshops including events with Forest Hills Library.
• First National BanksecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved first-mortgage lender partner. Sponsors workshops including events with Provident Charter School.
• Bloomfield-Garfield CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization and founding partner. Co-founded by Aggie Brose, a legendary community advocate who served on NWWPA Board for more than 15 years.
• Lawrenceville CorporationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization focused on neighborhood revitalization. Lauren Byrne Connelly, Aggie Brose's granddaughter, serves as Executive Director.
• Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Aggie Brose. Community development organization working to improve neighborhoods and expand access to economic opportunities.
• NeighborWorks AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network organization that inspired the founding of NWWPA. NWWPA is a chartered member of the network of 240+ community-based nonprofits. Craig Burkley serves as Director of the NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency administering the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) and other housing programs. NWWPA is an approved agency for PHFA's Comprehensive Housing Counseling Initiative.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of PittsburghsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency providing housing assistance programs including the Housing Stabilization Program. NWWPA partners with URA to distribute housing and utility payment assistance for City of Pittsburgh renters.
• Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram administered by PHFA to help Pennsylvania homeowners facing financial hardships related to the pandemic. NWWPA counselors help customers navigate this assistance.
• eHome AmericasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationOnline homebuyer education platform partner. NWWPA directs customers to eHome America's HUD-approved online course to fulfill pre-purchase education requirements.
• Allegheny Conference on Community DevelopmentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization. Part of NWWPA's network of community partners working to build stronger communities.
• Housing Alliance of PennsylvaniasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide housing advocacy organization. Craig Burkley previously served as board member/Treasurer. Provides housing resources and policy support.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater BerkssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow NeighborWorks America network member. NWWPA partners with NHSGB to offer loan products to eligible homebuyers in Western Pennsylvania.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks: Fellow chartered NeighborWorks America member in Pennsylvania and explicit co-development partner on the Arriving Home DPA program; provides the same mix of HUD-approved counseling, homebuyer education, and down-payment assistance loans in the Berks County region.

Broad incumbents

• NeighborWorks America: National network organization of 240+ community-based nonprofits; NWWPA is a chartered member and NeighborWorks provides shared standards, training, federal advocacy, and NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania coordination.
• Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA): State housing finance agency that funds and approves counseling agencies like NWWPA, administers down-payment assistance and HEMAP foreclosure prevention programs; defines the funding and certification framework NWWPA operates within.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Pittsburgh: National community development financial institution with a Pittsburgh office funding affordable housing, counseling, and CDC capacity-building; comparable in mission to NWWPA but operates at broader scale across multiple states.

Regional players

• Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation: Pittsburgh-based community development corporation and founding partner of NWWPA; provides complementary affordable housing, real estate development, and neighborhood revitalization services in overlapping Western PA neighborhoods.
• Lawrenceville Corporation: Community development corporation focused on Pittsburgh neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing; overlapping partner network and shared board/community advocate lineage with NWWPA's historic mission.
• Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG): Pittsburgh-based coalition of community development organizations working on equitable housing and lending; co-founded by Aggie Brose, longtime NWWPA board member, and partners with NWWPA on neighborhood stabilization initiatives.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA): City of Pittsburgh housing and economic development agency that distributes housing stabilization funds and partners with NWWPA to channel assistance to renters and homeowners; complementary public-sector housing role.
• Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh (HACP): Local public housing authority and former employer of NWWPA's COO; provides subsidized housing, Section 8 vouchers, and mixed-finance housing pathways that overlap with NWWPA's pre-purchase counseling and foreclosure prevention clientele.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Habitat affiliate that complements NWWPA by combining affordable homeownership pathways (sweat-equity builds, zero-interest mortgages) with homebuyer education; partially overlapping target market of low- and moderate-income first-time buyers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NWWPA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neighborworks-western-pennsylvania
• Xx.com/nwwpa_

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania